PCGG's Sabio goes on indefinite leave
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/12/2008 3:17 PM
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Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) Chairman Camilo Sabio has filed an indefinite leave after the Supreme Court ordered disbarment proceedings against him for trying to influence the Court of Appeals in the Meralco-GSIS corporate battle.
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza announced Friday that Sabio's leave will take effect on September 29. PCGG Commissioner Narciso Nario will take over as Officer-in-Charge.
The press secretary said Sabio decided to file a leave of absence in light of the the disbarment case he is facing before the Supreme Court's Office of the Bar Confidant.
The Supreme Court referred Sabio's disbarment case to the Office of the Bar Confidant on Tuesday.
The PCGG chief was cited by the Supreme Court for trying to influence his brother, Justice Jose Sabio, into supporting the GSIS in its effort to take control of the Meralco board from the Lopez family.
On Tuesday, the high court ordered the relief of Court of Appeals Associate Justice Vicente Roxas, who was found guilty of multiple violations of the canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct, grave misconduct, dishonesty, undue interest and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service.
Roxas authored the CA's temporary restraining order preventing the Securities and Exchange Commission from implementing its cease and desist order on the board elections of the Manila Electric Co. last May.
In the decision, the high court sanctioned Sabio's younger brother, Justice Jose Sabio Jr., and other CA justices Bienvenido Reyes, Conrado Vasquez, and Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal.
The younger Sabio was given a two-month suspension by the high court for simple misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a justice of the CA.
The SC said Justice Sabio violated the new Code of Judicial Conduct when he allowed his elder brother, Camilo, to influence his conduct on the Meralco case and was remiss on his duty to inform the Presiding Justice about his brother's phone call.
Sabio admitted during the panel hearings that his elder brother Sabio called him up twice to influence him on the position of the GSIS.
